What is a Gemba Walk, and why is it important?
Gemba is a Japanese word that translates to “real place” — where the real work is happening. When we talk about “going to the Gemba,” it is for leaders to get out from behind the desk and see for their own eyes what is happening.
A Gemba Walk is a simple yet powerful, effective practice in Lean management for leaders to take their time to fully understand the process and listen to the people doing the work—a way to engage with employees and build a culture of continuous improvement and strive for excellence.
“A desk is a dangerous place from which to view the world.”
Power of Gemba for Leaders
It is the ideal way to gather information and interact with employees, giving a fresh perspective on how to make things better without assumptions. Leaders can see first-hand what is working and what is not working as expected to help improve things.
Benefits of a Gemba Walk
Get information directly from workers to enable better decision-making.
Eliminates resistance to change.
Uncover improvement areas faster.
Cultivates a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
Builds relationships between leadership and employees.
Provide support for employees and increase engagement.
One of the fastest ways to get started and see results is with a Waste Walk.
How to conduct a Gemba Walk
Firstly, create a consistent weekly schedule for the leadership team to go to the Gemba.
Prepare for the walk. Have a clear start and end point as you walk.
Define the purpose and communicate the walk’s purpose with the people involved.
Spend time observing the process and document what you see without interfering.
Ask why questions to fully understand the process and the reality of what is happening. For example, what is working well and what needs improvement.
Show Respect
Empower the employee to come up with solutions to solve the problem.
Build trust and relationships on your walk.
Create a safe environment to share feedback on the process and the purpose of their work.
The final step is to take what you have learned and debrief leaders to rank improvement opportunities to take action on.
Conclusion
By going to the Gemba often and solving problems with the people doing the work, you can quickly boost efficiencies, increase productivity, enhance employee engagement, and reduce unnecessary expenses in no time!
If you want personal one-on-one assistance through this process or have complex challenges, we are happy to help!
